Generation of Data During the Transfer of Autonomously Travelling Hanging Bags into a Hanging-Bag Store

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a hanging articles storage for articles to be stored hanging, wherein the hanging articles storage comprises a number of levels, in each of which a network, in particular a rail network, is provided, and a plurality of self-propelled transport vehicles, each having an article carrier attached or attachable hanging thereto for receiving a storage article, which transport vehicle can be moved independently of one another along the network. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a hanging articles storage for carrying out the method and to a hanging articles storage for articles to be stored hanging, which comprises a number of levels, in each of which a network is provided, and a plurality of self-propelled transport vehicles, each with an article carrier attached or attachable thereto for receiving a storage article, which can be moved independently of one another along the network.

In automated article storages, production facilities and article transportation, such as in the mail order business, it is necessary to load articles into and unload them from containers as automatically as possible. The articles can be stored in these containers prior to delivery and are then transported to the station where they are packed for onward transportation to the customer. Transportation within the storage is usually carried out using hanging conveyor systems. The conveyed articles containers are usually bags that are made like fabric bags and are hanging from a rail system at the top with a type of wire bracket. Such a conveyed articles container is described, for example, in WO 2014/012965 A1. Its side wall elements are controlled via a linkage so that the side wall elements, which are connected to each other via a connecting area, can be opened. In the area of a loading station, the containers are also transferred to a horizontal or inclined position.

Comparable material containers and associated hanging conveyor systems are known, for example, from DE 10 2004 018 569 A1, EP 2 130 968 A1 or EP 2 196 415 A. The transport bags described there consist of flexible materials in the form of a loop in which the conveyed articles are held. For loading, these transport bags are opened from above so that the conveyed articles can be inserted into the loop. Unloading is achieved by either removing or ejecting the conveyed material from the side of the loop or by opening the loop downwards, for example in accordance with EP 2 130 968 A1. Furthermore, DE 103 54 419 A1 discloses a conveyed articles carrier that has a relatively rigid and flat plastic wall with a cut-out for loading and unloading conveyed articles.

Other conveyed articles containers are made like hanging flat trays made of plastic, which are covered on one side with elastic materials that clamp the conveyed articles.

It is known to mechanically load and manually unload such containers. A transport cycle is based on the slowest process, which also depends on the quantity of transported articles. In particular, a high number of individual conveyed articles can slow down loading and/or unloading. For example, unloading and/or assembling disassembled transport containers may determine the maximum possible transport cycle. EP 2 686 258 B1 relates to a hanging conveyor system with a transport bag for automatically unloading a loaded item and with an unloading station. The transport bag has a horizontal base on which the piece goods can be stored for transportation purposes. The bottom cooperates with a lifting device which is configured to lift the bottom of the transport bag loaded with at least one item when the transport bag is in an unloading position in a vertical direction in such a way that the at least one item can be pushed out centrally by means of a pushing device through one end face of a base body of the transport bag, wherein the pushing device has a pusher which engages through another end face of the base body into an interior of the base body, where the at least one item is located when the bottom is lifted. Unloading therefore requires the two opposing open end faces, the bottom that can be lifted in the vertical direction and the pusher of the pushing device that passes through one of the end faces. DE 20 2017 100 206 U1 discloses a conveyed articles container for a hanging conveyor system for transporting conveyed articles, which can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position. The conveyed articles container has a bottom that is mechanically associated with an ejection device. By means of the ejection device, the bottom can be adjusted between a transport position, in which the conveyed articles can be stored inside the conveyed articles container, and an ejection position, in which the conveyed articles can be ejected from the conveyed articles container.

DE 10 2018 105 795 A1 discloses a method for loading or unloading a conveyed material received on a limp material of a conveyed articles container by means of a station such as an unloading station and/or a loading station of a hanging conveyor system as well as a conveyed articles container, unloading station and hanging conveyor system according to the method. The conveyed articles container is brought closer to the station, where an attraction force is then exerted between the station and the conveyed articles container to couple the limp material of the conveyed articles container. The coupled conveyed articles container is tilted and the material is ejected from the conveyed articles container in a sliding movement.

DE 10 2018 128 417 A1 describes a method for transporting and sorting a sorter bag hanging from a roller adapter rolling on a rail network of a sorting system for transporting an item, with providing the rail network of the sorting system, providing the roll adapter of the sorter bag rolling on the rail network, providing an electrical drive energy for the roll adapter, converting the electrical drive energy provided by means of the roll adapter itself into kinetic energy for transporting the sorter bag, and devices according to the method. The roller adapters are used to hang and move the sorter bags. For this purpose, they each have a chassis with two coaxially rotating wheels, a suspension arranged between the wheels and supported by them, on which the sorter bag is hanging, an electric drive for driving the wheels and a control device or partial control device for autonomous or at least semi-autonomous control of the roll adapter along a travel path selected from a plurality of travel paths.

DE 10 2019 215 304 B3 discloses a device for feeding hanging articles into a hanging conveyor system. This comprises a feed unit for feeding the hanging conveyed articles singly into a conveyor system of the hanging conveyor system with a transport distance which can be defined in a variable manner, wherein the feed unit has a first stop element for stopping the hanging conveyed articles, and a detection unit for detecting the thickness of the individual hanging conveyed articles, a storage device for storing transport units comprising a plurality of transport units, a plurality of storage sections which are configured to store transport units, a feed section which is connected to the storage sections via a first switch in each case, a measuring device which is arranged on the feed section and is configured to store an extension of a transport unit in each case, and a control system which is connected to the measuring device and the first switches and is configured to select a storage section for storing the transport unit on the basis of the extent of the transport unit determined by the measuring device.

EP 3 972 917 B1 shows a hanging conveyor system comprising hanging bags, each of which comprises a bag body made of a flexible material which can be moved between a transport position and a loading position and is designed for transporting articles, a loading station which comprises an actuating device by means of which the bag body can be moved from the transport position to the loading position and from the loading position to the transport position, and at which a hanging bag can be loaded with articles when the bag body is in the loading position, a hanging conveyor device for transporting a hanging bag into the loading station and for transporting the hanging bag out of the loading station, with a measuring device which is configured to determine an extension of the bag body in a transport direction of the loaded hanging bag in the transport position of the bag body.

EP 3 800 146 B1 relates to a device for feeding hanging conveyed articles into a hanging conveyor system. This comprises a. a feed unit for feeding the hanging conveyed articles individually into a conveyor system of the hanging conveyor system with a transport distance that can be variably defined, wherein the feed unit has a separating element for separating the hanging conveyed articles, b. a detection unit for detecting the thickness of the individual hanging conveyed articles.

WO 2021/219361 A1 relates to a method for operating a transport device with a storage device and a corresponding transport device with a storage device. The method comprises the following steps: Providing the transport device with the storage device for storing transport units, comprising a plurality of transport units, a plurality of storage sections and a feed section to the storage sections. Furthermore, the transport device comprises an optical sensor arranged on the feed section and evaluation electronics connected to the optical sensor. The method further comprises obtaining measurement data with the optical sensor from a transport unit moving past the optical sensor and processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor with the evaluation electronics to determine the spatial extension in at least one dimension of the transport unit moving past; and selecting a storage path for storing the transport unit moving past on the basis of the obtained spatial extension of the transport unit moving past.

CH 715 506 A1 describes a storage device for storing transport units. This comprises a plurality of transport units, a plurality of storage sections which are configured to store transport units, a feed section which is connected to the storage sections via a first switch in each case, a measuring device which is arranged on the feed section and is configured to obtain an extension of a transport unit in each case, and a control system which is connected to the measuring device and the first switches and is configured to select a storage section for storing the transport unit on the basis of the extension of the transport unit obtained by the measuring device.

DE 102008035651 A1 relates to a shelf-like storage article carrier with a hanging receptacle arranged on the underside of the storage article carrier, on which storage articles can be hanging, wherein the storage article carrier can be moved in storage racks. The storage racks have at least two storage locations arranged one above the other in a vertical direction to accommodate the storage article carrier and a loading and/or removal station at which the at least one storage article carrier can be arranged so as to be accessible from outside the storage device. The storage article carrier can be moved along a transport route from a loading and/or unloading station to the storage locations using a conveyor device. Furthermore, a storage device of the aforementioned type with at least two storage columns and a method are disclosed, in which storage articles with several storage locations are automatically stored on top of one another, as a result of which a storage area for articles to be stored hanging can be utilized particularly efficiently.

It is also known to provide items such as storage articles or products with machine-readable codes that can be used to electronically detect the properties of the storage articles or products. DE 20 2012 008 937 U1 discloses a device for recognizing a code on an article or its packaging, preferably at the articles receipt of an order picking system, wherein the data of the code is read by machine with at least one optical reader and further processed, decoded and stored in an electronic data processing unit. The optical reader has a camera to which three light sources are assigned.

Based on this state of the art, the present disclosure is based on the object of improving storage processes in a hanging articles storage with a large number, in particular over a million, of autonomously or at least semi-autonomously movable article carriers in order to increase efficiency.

The object is solved with the method mentioned at the beginning by carrying out the following steps: providing at a transfer point of the hanging articles storage a storage article to be stored and providing a transport vehicle with an article carrier at the transfer point, loading the article carrier at the transfer point with the storage article, generating an article identifier identifying the storage article and/or a carrier identifier identifying the article carrier and/or a vehicle identifier identifying the transport vehicle and/or a length identifier identifying a length of the article carrier, wherein the length in a state of the article carrier loaded with the storage article depends on the storage article, and storing the storage article in the hanging articles storage by vertically transporting the transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article from the transfer point to a level of the hanging articles storage, in which a defined or definable storage location for the storage article is located, and horizontal transportation of the transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article in the respective level to the defined or definable storage location, wherein the storage location is defined or is being defined depending on the article identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or length identifier.

The method according to the disclosure enables a simple and very flexible storage of the storage articles at the desired storage locations in the hanging articles storage. The storage locations can, for example, be defined depending on one or more of the identifiers. This makes it possible, for example, to storage certain categories of storage articles by type in certain areas of the hanging articles storage by defining the storage locations of the storage articles of the respective category in the same area. In the same way, by knowing the vehicle identifiers, for example, similar transport vehicles can be stored in the same area, which is particularly advantageous for different vehicle types. It is also possible, for example, to make optimum use of the available space in the hanging articles storage by knowing the length of the loaded article carriers using the length identifiers. For example, the length of a storage line in the network or rail network may be known and the number of transport vehicles stored in the storage line may be determined in such a way that the sum of the lengths of the article carriers is as close as possible to the length of the storage line. This means that the article carriers can be stored in a space-optimized way, either in line with each other or without any significant distance to an adjacent article carrier, and the corresponding storage can be planned in advance. By knowing the carrier identifiers, for example, similar product carriers can be stored in a desired area.

In the context of this application, an identifier is to be understood as any characteristic date, in particular a sequential number or a number in words. In the case of a number in words, for example, this can contain information on a storage location and/or properties of the storage article. The identifier can therefore also be understood as a multitude of summarized individual data.

It is of course advantageous to generate not only the article identifier at the transfer point, but also one or more identifiers at the same time, i.e. carrier identifiers and/or vehicle identifiers and/or length identifiers. These multiple identifiers can be processed together, in particular combined into a data array. There is then advantageously a summarized information, e.g. about the length of the article carrier on the one hand and the storage article contained therein and an identification of the article carrier and/or the transport vehicle itself. Information about the length of the article carrier can be used to calculate storage requirements, for example. Autonomous or at least semi-autonomous driving of the transport vehicles in the network or rail networks means that they can be stored in a space-saving manner according to the individual length of the article carriers, which can depend on the storage articles. This length means that storage locations with an individual length can be allocated so that a space requirement can be calculated before the autonomous or at least semi-autonomous transport vehicles, including the loaded article carrier, actually arrive at their storage location.

It is therefore possible to calculate how much storage space will be required by the article carrier that has just been entered into the data system and loaded with the storage article at the transfer point. The length of an article carrier can be generated by calculation based on knowledge of the dimensions of the storage article or by measurement. In the case of a measurement, a random position of the storage articles within the material can be taken into account. In the case of a forecast, a maximum value can be assumed. The article carriers can be loaded quickly and stored in a storage location with minimal space requirements. Compared to fixed storage locations within the hanging articles storage, this results in a smaller space requirement. The method can be carried out at one or in parallel at a large number of transfer points and/or repeatedly for a plurality of article carriers.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the following steps are also carried out: taking out the storage article from the hanging articles storage by horizontal transportation of the transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article from the defined storage location in the respective level of the hanging bag storage, vertical transportation of the respective transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article from the respective level into an unloading station of the hanging bag storage and unloading of the storage article from the article carrier in the unloading station. This allows one or more of the desired storage articles to be taken out quickly and easily.

Preferably, the article identifier and/or bag identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier is transmitted to a central control device of the hanging articles storage, the storage location is determined by means of the central control device depending on the received article identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier and the storage article are stored in the defined storage location by controlling the vertical transport and the horizontal transport by means of the central control device. This allows the identifiers to be recorded on site at the transfer point and processed centrally by the control device. All important information for process monitoring is available in the control device. This means that storing can be carried out largely in an automated way.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, the following steps are carried out: detecting a machine-readable article code of the storage article and/or a machine-readable carrier code of the article carrier and/or a machine-readable vehicle code of the transport vehicle and/or the length of the article carrier at the transfer point by means of a detection device, preferably optically or by means of near-field communication, generating the article identifier from the detected article code and/or the carrier identifier from the detected carrier code and/or the vehicle identifier from the detected vehicle code and/or the length identifier from the detected length by means of a computing unit downstream of the detection device and transferring the generated article identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier to the central control device.

The codes can be any machine-readable code, for example an optically readable code such as a barcode or QR code. Preferably, the codes are so-called SMART codes, which usually have a square shape with square pixels and three characteristic additional squares arranged in three of the four corners. It is conceivable that the codes from an optically captured image are found using characteristics such as the three squares and then the code is read from an image area found in this way. The identifiers can be generated easily and automatically by optical capturing. In the context of the present application, however, a machine-readable code is also to be understood as a contactless readable code that can be read by near-field communication. The code may be provided, for example, in the form of a passive transponder on the storage article, article carrier or transport vehicle. Reading may be carried out using a suitable reading unit. Standardized communication technologies such as RFID (radio-frequency identification) or NFC (near field communication) could only be used as examples.

It is conceivable that several codes can be detected using a single detection device. However, several separate detection devices could also be used, e.g. one detection device for each specific code. In the case of several optical detection devices, these may be configured as identical parts, in particular each with its own computing unit. When optically detecting the length of the article carrier, the article carrier can be recorded as a whole or in sections and, for example, also from a certain angle, such as from the side. The length can be deduced from the image data obtained in this way. This may be done, for example, using suitable evaluation software that may be implemented in the computer unit.

1 2 According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the following steps are carried out: storing a plurality of storage articles in a respective defined storage location according to the steps of claim, and taking out the plurality of storage articles according to the steps of claim, wherein the transport vehicles including the loaded article carriers are sorted during taking out and fed to the unloading station in a defined sequence, wherein the sequence is preferably defined by the central control device as a function of the article identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier. This makes it easy to arrange storage articles in a desired sequence during the process of taking out, e.g. for a specific packaging. As sorting takes place during the process of taking out, time can be saved compared to conventional methods.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the following steps are carried out: autonomously driving and propelling the transport vehicles, at least for horizontal transportation along the network, in particular the rail network, in a time period between receiving a first control signal from the central control device and receiving a subsequent second control signal from the central control device. This reduces the control effort, as the transport vehicles mainly move independently in the network, especially the rail network, and only receive control signals from the central control device at irregular intervals.

The method is preferably carried out in a hanging bag storage, where a hanging bag is used as the article carrier, a bag identifier is used as the carrier identifier and a bag code is preferably used as the carrier code. The method has proven to be particularly advantageous for hanging bag storages. The hanging bags may have a limp and/or foldable material in which the storage articles can be stored. This adapts to the corresponding storage article, wherein the length of the hanging bag is influenced. Of course, other forms of hanging articles storages would also be conceivable, i.e. other types of article carriers, for example garment holders that can be hanging from the transport vehicle to hold an item of clothing or holding devices for containers such as packages, liquid containers, etc. Regardless of the specific embodiment of the hanging articles storage, the basic system of the method remains the same.

The object is further solved by a hanging articles storage for carrying out the method described above. This results in the advantages described above.

Finally, the object is solved with the above-mentioned hanging articles storage in that a transfer point is provided for transferring a storage article to be stored in the hanging articles storage to an article carrier attached to a transport vehicle, that means for generating an article identifier identifying the storage article and/or means for generating a carrier identifier identifying the article carrier and/or means for generating a vehicle identifier identifying the transport vehicle and/or means for generating a length identifier identifying a length of the article carrier are provided, wherein the length of the article carrier in a state loaded with the storage article depends on the storage article, that a first means is provided for vertically transporting the transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article from the transfer point to a level of the hanging bag storage in which a fixed or fixable storage location for the storage articles is located, and that a central control device is provided which is configured to control the first means for vertically transporting the article carrier and the respective transport vehicle in such a way that the storage article can be stored in the defined or definable storage location, wherein the storage location is defined or definable depending on the article identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier. The advantages are the same as described above for the method. This also applies to the following dependent claims.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the hanging articles storage comprises an unloading station for unloading a stored article to be taken out from the article carrier and a second means for vertically transporting the transport vehicle including the article carrier loaded with the storage article to be taken out from the level of the hanging articles storage in which the defined or definable storage location is located to the unloading station, wherein the central control device is configured to control the second means for vertically transporting the article carrier and the transport vehicle of the article carrier loaded with the storage article in such a way that the transport vehicle, including the article carrier loaded with the storage article, can be fed from the defined or definable storage location to the unloading station.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the hanging articles storage, it is provided that a plurality of storage articles, each received on an article carrier, can be stored by means of a plurality of transport vehicles at defined storage locations in a level or in different levels, and can be taken out from the storage locations and fed sequentially to the unloading station, wherein the central control device is configured to control the second means for vertically transporting the article carrier and the plurality of transport vehicles in such a way that the plurality of transport vehicles, including the loaded article carriers, are sorted during the taking out and can be fed to the unloading station in a defined order, wherein the order is preferably defined or definable depending on the article identifier and/or carrier identifier and/or vehicle identifier and/or length identifier.

An exemplary embodiment of the hanging bag storage is characterized in that the means for generating the article identifier and/or the means for generating the carrier identifier and/or the means for generating the vehicle identifier and/or the means for generating the length identifier comprises at least one detection device upstream of a computing unit, for detecting a machine-readable article code of the storage article and/or a machine-readable carrier code of the article carrier and/or a machine-readable vehicle code of the transport vehicle and/or the length of the article carrier, wherein the computing unit is connected data-technically to the central control device.

In a preferred alternative, the at least one computing unit may have its own IP address, via which the data-technical connection with the central control device can be established. The IP address can be used to access standards for transferring the identifiers. In addition, the at least one computing unit may be maintained, monitored and controlled by the central control device wirelessly or by cable.

According to a preferred embodiment, the detection device comprises at least one camera for optically detecting an optically readable article code and/or an optically readable carrier code and/or an optically readable vehicle code and/or the length, wherein preferably one camera each is provided for detecting one of the codes and each camera and a separate computing unit with a separate IP address is provided downstream of each camera. The optically readable code is preferably a barcode or QR code or SMART code in general. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device may comprise at least one reading unit for contactless reading of a contactless readable article code and/or a contactless readable carrier code and/or a contactless readable vehicle code, preferably based on near-field communication, in particular NFC or RFID. The detection device may be a digital camera chip that is connected directly to a programmable computing device or a computer on a common circuit board, for example. Such units consisting of a camera and a computer may advantageously be configured as identical parts, for example for each identifier to be generated, in particular only with different programming. However, it is also conceivable that several optical detection devices are connected upstream of a common computing unit. The computing unit may be a small computer that can be procured, connected and programmed on an industrial scale at low cost. The image processing required to generate the identifiers may be carried out on site, e.g. using suitable software implemented in the respective computing unit. The result of this can be used as required, for example centrally, without incurring computing costs at a central location. This may also save data traffic for transferring raw data, especially image data.

If, for example, several cameras are provided, several identifiers can be obtained separately from each other, wherein a central control and coordination of the data determination carried out directly at the transfer point can be carried out via the separate IP addresses by means of the central control device despite the separate configuration. For example, the article identifier, the carrier identifier and the length identifier can be checked for plausibility, e.g. whether any known dimensions of the storage article with the determined length identifier result in a plausible value for the length of the article carrier. An on-site detection enables very fast processing; for example a detection process can be carried out in less than 50 ms, in particular less than 30 ms, preferably in around 30 ms. The separate computing units can be programmed simply and easily, for example using memory cards. They may be simple in design, as they only have to fulfil one task. Simple replacement is possible for maintenance. If necessary, only the IP address must be reassigned or taken into account. They can also be used separately at different locations, although the overall task of recording incoming articles is still possible. The application may also be scaled to several transfer stations. Once the incoming articles have been recorded, the hanging bags can be directed to the storage location using the central control device.

Advantageously, the transport vehicles are configured to be moved and driven autonomously, at least for horizontal transport along the network, in particular the rail network, in a period between the receipt of a first control signal from the central control device and the receipt of a subsequent second control signal from the central control device.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the plurality of transport vehicles comprises at least two different vehicle types, wherein the vehicle types preferably differ in at least one of the following parameters: drive power, load capacity, fastening device for the article carrier, length in the direction of movement, height in the vertical direction. This means, for example, that a more powerful transport vehicle can be used for heavy articles than for lighter articles. In the same way, a correspondingly larger transport vehicle could be used for larger transport articles than for smaller transport articles, etc.

It is advantageous if the hanging articles storage has means for automated loading of an article carrier with a storage article at the transfer point, preferably comprising a stationary or mobile first handling robot, and/or means for automated unloading of a storage article from an article carrier in the unloading station, preferably comprising a stationary or mobile second handling robot. This means that loading and unloading can be carried out in an automated way. The handling robots may be controlled via the central control device, for example.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the first means for vertically transporting the product carriers comprises a first vertical conveyor and/or the second means for vertically transporting the product carriers comprises a second vertical conveyor, wherein the first vertical conveyor and/or the second vertical conveyor preferably are configured as a ring conveyor system, in particular as a continuously conveying ring conveyor system. A continuously conveying ring conveyor system is, for example, a well-known “paternoster”. Vertical transportation may be continuous or intermittent. Intermittent may mean that the carrier units of the ring conveyor system, which are configured to accommodate one or more transport vehicles, are each stopped for a certain period of time at one level of the hanging articles storage so that a number of transport vehicles can drive from the network, in particular the rail network, onto the carrier unit. The carrier unit can then be moved to the next level and stop there again for a certain period of time so that a number of transport vehicles can move from the carrier unit to the network, in particular the rail network, of the respective level. The ring conveyor system may be controlled by the central control device. The central control device may be configured to coordinate the movement of the ring conveyor system and the movement of the transport vehicles, for example for the advantageous sorting described above to produce a fixed order of storage articles.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hanging articles storage is configured as a hanging bag storage, wherein the article carrier comprises a hanging bag, wherein the carrier identifier is a bag identifier and the carrier code is preferably a bag code. However, as already explained, other embodiments are also conceivable. A mixed operation with different article carriers would also be conceivable.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the hanging articles storage, a first level of the hanging articles storage or a first area of a level can be assigned or assignable a number of defined or definable first article identifiers and/or first carrier identifiers and/or first vehicle identifiers and/or first length identifiers, and a second level or a second area of the level can be assigned or assignable a number of defined or definable second article identifiers and/or second carrier identifiers and/or second vehicle identifiers and/or second length identifiers. The central control device may be configured to define the storage locations for storage articles with first article identifiers and/or first carrier identifiers and/or first vehicle identifiers and/or first length identifiers in the first level or in the first area of the respective level, and to define the storage locations for storage articles with second article identifiers and/or second carrier identifiers and/or second vehicle identifiers and/or second length identifiers in the second level or in the second area of the respective level. This means, for example, that storage articles of a certain category or hanging carrier of a certain length or type can be stored in a level or area of a level provided for this purpose. For example, there could be levels with different heights and article carriers with a matching height could be stored on each level. This allows the available space to be utilized in the best possible way.

Further advantages result from the subclaims and the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment.

Before describing the disclosure in detail, it should be pointed out that it is not limited to the respective components of the device and the respective method steps, as these components and methods may vary. The terms used here are only intended to describe particular embodiments and are not used in a restrictive manner. Furthermore, if the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or in the claims, this also refers to the plurality of these elements, unless the overall context clearly indicates otherwise.

1 FIG. 1 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional view obliquely from the top front laterally of a hanging bag storage. The hanging bag storage shown is merely a preferred, but not restrictive, embodiment of the hanging articles storageaccording to the disclosure.

1 9 13 9 13 9 13 1 7 11 7 11 The hanging bag storagehas at least two levels,, in this case a total of four, wherein a first leveland a second levelare provided with reference signs by way of example. More or fewer levels are conceivable, for example 10 levels or more, which are arranged vertically one above the other. Each of the levels,of the hanging bag storagemay have a transfer buffer,, of which only a first transfer bufferand a second transfer bufferare also provided with reference signs.

1 3 1 7 11 27 7 11 27 The hanging bag storageshown is used for picking up, storing, sorting and/or taking out storage articles. Optionally, the hanging bag storagemay be configured as a pure storage or pure sorting device. The transfer buffers,are preferably arranged vertically one above the other, which is symbolized by a line. However, it is also conceivable to arrange only at least two of the transfer buffers,one above the other and/or to arrange them at an angle to a vertical spatial direction along the line.

27 7 11 5 9 13 53 9 13 55 3 3 61 Along the imaginary line, along which the transfer buffers,are preferably also arranged, there also runs a vertical conveyor of any configuration for vertically conveying the loaded or unloaded hanging bagsbetween the levels,and from a transfer point (loading point)to the levels,and in the opposite direction back to an unloading station, preferably a plurality of such conveyors. In the embodiment shown, a vertical conveyor is provided merely as an example, which is configured both for vertical conveying of the storage articlesto be stored and for vertical conveying of the storage articlesto be taken out, in particular for transporting the transport vehiclesdescribed in more detail below.

61 53 9 13 61 9 13 55 23 However, it is advantageous if a first vertical conveyor is provided for vertically transporting the transport vehiclesfrom the transfer pointto the levels,and a second vertical conveyor is provided for vertically transporting the transport vehiclesfrom the levels,to the unloading station. The available vertical conveyors may be configured in particular as a ring conveyor system, especially a continuous conveying ring conveyor system, e.g. as a known paternoster.

7 11 23 3 23 9 13 7 11 9 13 The transfer buffers,are optionally and preferably arranged adjacent to the ring conveyor systemin such a way that the storage articlescan be transferred from these to the ring conveyor systemand/or can be stored by the latter in the levels,or the transfer buffers,of the levels,.

49 49 9 13 49 A network, in particular a rail network, is provided in each level,. The rail networkmay have connecting sections and branches such as crossings and/or switches. It is preferably a grid with straight rails connected to each other by crossings and/or switches. For example, with rectangular network meshes.

61 61 61 49 49 1 9 13 5 3 61 1 5 5 3 Furthermore, a plurality of self-propelled transport vehiclesis provided, for example several hundred to several thousand transport vehicles. The transport vehiclescan be hooked into the rail networkand move autonomously and independently of one another along the rail network. In particular, the drive is therefore without a drag chain. For example, the hanging bag storageis constructed without drag chains at least in some areas or completely, preferably at least within the levels,. An article carrierfor receiving a storage articleis attached to each transport vehicle, preferably detachably or interchangeably. In the example of the hanging bag storageshown, the article carrieris configured as a hanging bag. In particular, the hanging bagshave a limp and/or foldable material in which a stored itemcan be stored.

61 49 1 61 Particularly preferably, the transport vehiclesare configured in such a way that they travel autonomously on the network, in particular the rail network. Hanging bag storageswith transport vehiclesmoving autonomously in a rail network are known and are described, for example, in DE10 2018 128 417 A1.

61 61 49 Furthermore, hanging bag storages with transport vehicleswhich move autonomously in a network, in particular a transport network, and which are formed by transport carriers which can be moved while adhering to a running surface, are described in WO 2023/147620 A1 and this embodiment is hereby made the subject of the present disclosure. In particular, the transport carrier and the transport network are made the subject of this disclosure. The transport vehiclesof the present application may therefore be configured in the same way as the transport carriers of WO 2023/147620 A1 and the networkof the present application may be configured in the same way as the transport network of WO 2023/147620 A1.

Said transportation network may include transport paths and path markings may be provided along the transport paths of the transport network. Preferably, the path markings are arranged on a supporting structure, in particular on the driving surface. The transport carrier may be guided along the transport path. The path marking may comprise travel markings that are preferably followed by the transport carrier as it moves. The (in particular optical or magnetic) travel marking may thus be configured as a guiding or travel line on or in the travel surface of the support structure along which the transport carrier is to travel (line-guided transport vehicle). For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the travel mark is detected by the transport carrier, in particular by a detection unit of the transport carrier, and the transport carrier is controlled by a travel control system in such a way that the transport carrier is moved along the travel mark. Preferably, the travel marking is configured as a travel line running along the transport path with a first edge and a second edge.

25 1 25 61 61 61 25 1 23 A central control deviceis also provided for monitoring and controlling the hanging bag storage. The control devicemay preferably communicate with the transport vehicles, in particular to send control commands to the transport vehiclesand, if necessary, to receive signals from the transport vehicles. Furthermore, the control devicemay exchange information with other functional units of the hanging bag storage, for example to control the available vertical conveyors, in particular ring conveyor systems.

2 FIG. 1 FIG. 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 61 5 1 61 5 49 61 57 59 shows a schematic side view of a transport vehiclewith a hanging bagfor the hanging bag storageshown in.shows a schematic side view of several of the transport vehiclesshown inwith hanging bags, hanging in the rail network. The transport vehicleshave wheelsand can be driven by means of a drive energy merely indicated by the reference signand a drive using this energy. The drive may be provided by a suitable electric motor, for example.

3 FIG. 51 61 5 49 49 61 49 49 61 25 1 25 In, a double arrowindicates a possible direction of movement of the transport vehiclesincluding hanging bagsin the network, in particular the rail network. In particular, the transport vehiclesare configured, programmed and/or designed for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving on the network, in particular rail network. In addition to the drive, these may have their own control device for controlling the longitudinal and lateral dynamics control. Furthermore, the transport vehiclespreferably comprise a suitable communication device (not shown) for communicating with the central control deviceof the hanging bag storage, which is described in more detail below. The communication device may, for example, have a wireless receiver unit to receive control signals from the control device.

2 FIG. 5 3 3 shows the hanging bagwith the storage articlereceived therein. The storage articleis located inside a U-shaped hanging material, in particular a limp material. Loading and unloading may be carried out from above or from the side.

61 3 5 23 61 5 53 61 1 Preferably, the transport vehiclesincluding the storage articlesin the hanging bagare transferred to the respective vertical conveyor, e.g. to the ring conveyor system. Particularly preferably, the respective transport vehicleincluding the hanging bagattached thereto is driven, controlled and/or moved autonomously before and during providing at the transfer pointand during transfer of the transport vehicleto the hanging bag storage.

3 1 1 53 53 5 3 5 61 1 61 5 3 5 53 3 5 53 509 1 To store the storage articlesin the hanging bag storage, the hanging bag storageis provided with the transfer point. At the transfer point, individual hanging bagscan be loaded with storage articles. Each hanging bagis attached to a transport vehicleand can therefore be transferred to the hanging bag storageafter loading by moving the transport vehicle. Preferably, each hanging bagis loaded with only one storage article. However, several are also conceivable, provided they can be accommodated in the corresponding hanging bag. At the transfer point, the storage articlesmay optionally be buffered and transferred directly to the hanging bags, which move to the transfer pointand then continue autonomously to a storage locationof the hanging bag storage.

55 1 3 5 15 61 509 9 13 23 61 5 9 13 55 3 25 61 55 25 61 At the unloading stationof the hanging bag storage, the storage articlescan be unloaded from the hanging bagsand are available there, preferably in a predetermined or predeterminable order. For this purpose, the transport vehicles, in particular rail-guided or line-guided, can first be moved from a storage locationin one of the levels,to the vertical conveyor, in particular the ring conveyor system, which is done in particular autonomously or semi-autonomously. One or more of the transport vehiclesincluding the loaded hanging bagscan then be fed from the respective level,to the unloading stationby means of the vertical conveyor. To produce the desired order of storage articles, the control unitmay control the corresponding transport vehicleson the one hand and the vertical conveyor for the unloading stationon the other hand. The control devicemay coordinate the movements of the transport vehiclesand the movement of the vertical conveyor in order to obtain the desired order.

5 15 23 55 23 55 55 9 13 5 23 55 1 5 53 It is conceivable that a queue of hanging bagscould move in the desired orderfrom the vertical conveyor, in particular the ring conveyor system, into the unloading stationor be transferred from the ring conveyor systemto the unloading station, unloaded there and then returned for further loading. The unloading stationmay be arranged inside or outside one of the levels,, preferably in a lowest level. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the hanging bagsare conveyed by means of the vertical conveyor, in particular the ring conveyor system, and unloaded at the unloading stationin the desired order and immediately transported back empty into the hanging bag storage, i.e. without the respective hanging bagsbeing directly available there, for example in order to be transported on to the transfer pointafter unloading.

55 5 25 The hanging bags in the unloading stationmay be unloaded manually by an operator. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to carry out the unloading of the hanging bagsmechanized or by means of a handling robot (not shown), wherein the handling robot may comprise a stationary or mobile handling robot. The handling robot can preferably be controlled by the central control device.

4 FIG. 4 FIG. 53 3 1 49 49 53 5 533 49 49 61 5 535 537 5 shows a 3-dimensional view obliquely from the top laterally of a transfer pointfor transferring storage articlesinto the hanging bag storage. A part of the network, in particular a rail network, can be seen, which acts as an infeed for the transfer pointat this point. A feed direction of the hanging bagsis symbolized inby an arrow. Via the network, in particular rail network, the rail-guided or line-guided transport vehicleswith hanging bagshanging therefrom can travel under a loading table, which has a loading openingfor loading the hanging bagsfrom above.

3 5 537 539 5 5 The storage articlescan be inserted into the hanging bagsfrom above through the loading opening. This process may be carried out by an operator. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to carry out the loading of the hanging bagsmechanized or by means of a handling robot (not shown), wherein the handling robot may comprise a stationary or mobile first handling robot. It is also conceivable to load the hanging bagsfrom the side.

539 3 517 539 3 In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the operatorstarts the loading process by manually gripping one of the storage articlesprovided and feeding it to a detection device. The operatorreceives the storage articlein a known manner, for example via a mechanized infeed such as a conveyor belt, load carrier, shelf or similar.

3 511 511 511 539 3 511 3 511 3 539 To record the properties of the storage article, it has an article code, for example. The article codemay be an optically readable machine-readable code, e.g. a standard barcode in the case of consumer articles. However, it is also conceivable that the article codehas any other optically readable code, for example a square smart code such as a QR code. As a rule, the operatoralready receives the storage articleprovided with the article code. However, if the storage articledoes not have an article code, this may also be affixed to the storage articleby the operator, e.g. in the form of a sticker or similar. Alternatively, the machine-readable article code may also be in the form of a contactless readable RFID or NFC transponder mentioned at the beginning.

501 503 502 505 517 507 517 517 507 511 501 517 507 513 503 517 507 515 5 505 517 507 514 502 501 502 503 505 25 a a b b c c b b After starting the loading process, one or more identifiers can be generated, e.g. an article identifierand/or a bag identifier(generally a carrier identifier) and/or a vehicle identifierand/or a length identifier. For this purpose, the detection devicemay have means for optical (in the case of optically readable codes) detection or means for contactless detection (in the case of near-field communication) and an associated computing unitfor performing calculations. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the detection devicecomprises a first cameraand, connected downstream, a first computing unitfor optically detecting the article codeand generating the article identifier, a second cameraand, connected downstream, a second computing unitfor detecting the bag codeand generating the bag identifierand a third cameraand, connected downstream, a third computing unitfor optically detecting and measuring the lengthof the hanging bagand generating the length identifier. The second cameraand the second computing unitmay also be configured to capture the vehicle codeand generate the vehicle identifier. The generated identifiers,,andmay be transmitted to the central control devicevia a link, in particular a radio link and/or cable link.

515 5 517 503 505 25 4 FIG. Alternatively, however, several codes and/or one or more codes and the lengthof the hanging bagcould also be detected by a common detection unit, for example by a camera. A corresponding result transfer of the obtained identifiers, here exemplarily bag identifierand length identifier, to the central control deviceis shown in dashed lines in.

517 For data transfer, the detection devicemay have one or more IP-addresses, preferably a separate IP-address for each separate computer.

501 502 503 505 25 5 3 509 61 5 Once the identifiers,,andhave been transferred, the control devicemay assign the hanging bagor the storage articlecontained therein to a storage location, indicated in the figure only by the reference sign, which the transport vehicleof the respective hanging bagthen controls autonomously or at least semi-autonomously heads for.

5 515 5 3 515 509 5 505 509 5 1 4 FIG. After loading, the hanging baghas an individual lengthdepending on the position within the hanging bagand the properties of the storage article, which is symbolized by a double arrow in. Depending on the length, more or less space is required in the storage location. By measuring the hanging bag, or more precisely by generating the length identifier, it is possible to measure and plan the storage spaceindividually for each hanging bag. This means that the storage space available in the hanging bag storagecan be optimally utilized.

5 FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for controlling and operating the hanging bag storageshown in the previous figures. Reference is also made to the previous figures.

519 3 53 511 511 511 53 1 539 521 61 5 53 61 25 61 49 53 521 519 3 FIG. In a first step, the storage articleto be stored is provided at the transfer point. The storage article preferably has an article code. If the storage article does not have an article code, the operator may also provide an article codeon the storage article, for example by affixing a sticker containing the article code. The transfer pointmay be provided on one level, in particular on or at the lowest level, of the hanging bag storageand may be loaded mechanically or manually by means of the operator. In a further step, a transport vehiclewith a hanging bagattached thereto is provided at the transfer point. This may be done, for example, by the transport vehiclereceiving a corresponding control command from the central control device. The transport vehiclecan then travel essentially autonomously along a rail of the rail networkto the transfer point, as indicated by the arrow in. The stepmay of course also be performed before or parallel to the step.

3 501 523 3 511 517 501 511 507 517 525 3 537 5 535 5 23 The operator can grasp the storage articleprovided in order to generate an article identifierin a further step, which identifier uniquely identifies the storage article. This may be done, for example, by reading the article codeby means of the detection device, e.g. optically or by near-field communication. The article identifiermay be generated from the article code, preferably by the computing unitdownstream of the detection device. In a further step, the storage articleis fed, for example through the loading opening, to the hanging bagwaiting at the loading table, i.e. the hanging bagis filled or loaded with the storage article.

527 503 5 513 5 517 507 502 529 514 61 517 507 502 3 FIG. 3 FIG. In a further step, for example, a bag identifiercan be generated, which uniquely identifies the hanging bag. This may be done, for example, by reading a bag codeprovided on the respective hanging bagor attachable thereto by the operator by means of the detection device, for example optically (see) or by near-field communication, and the computing unitgenerating the bag identifier from this. In an analogous manner, a vehicle identifiercould alternatively or additionally also be generated in a step, for example by reading a vehicle codeprovided on the respective transport vehicleor attachable thereto by an operator by means of the detection device, for example again optically (see) or by near-field communication, and the computing unitgenerating the vehicle identifierfrom this.

3 5 515 531 505 515 5 517 507 507 515 501 502 503 505 507 25 After loading with the storage article, the hanging baghas an individual lengthdepending on the storage article. In a further step, a length identifiermay advantageously be generated, which identifies the lengthof the hanging bag (in the direction of movement). This may be done, for example, by measuring the loaded hanging bag, in particular optically. The measuring may be carried out by means of a suitable camera of the detection deviceand a downstream computing unit. For example, a suitable image processing software may be implemented in the computing unitfor this purpose, which can obtain the lengthfrom the image data recorded by the camera. The obtained identifiers,,,are transferred from the respective computing unitto the central control device, for example via a suitable wireless or wired data communication.

3 5 61 5 515 25 3 3 61 3 515 5 3 5 515 5 505 The storage articleto be stored is preferably paired with the hanging bagprovided and/or with the transport vehicleto which the hanging bagis attached and/or with the lengthof the hanging bag by data-technically linking the available identifiers with one another. As a result, the central control devicenot only has information about the storage article, but in particular also further information about the hanging bag in which the respective storage articleis located and/or the transport vehiclewith which the storage articleis transported, as well as information about the lengthof the filled hanging bag. In addition to the pairing process of the stored itemwith the hanging bag, information about the individual lengthof the hanging bagis also available in the form of the length identifier.

List of reference signs 1 hanging articles storage hanging bag storage 3 storage article 5 article carrier, hanging bag 7 first transfer buffer 9 first level 11 second transfer buffer 13 second level 15 order 23 ring conveyor system 25 central control device 27 line 49 network, rail network 51 double arrow 53 transfer point 55 unloading station 57 wheels 59 drive energy 61 roller adapter 501 article identifier 502 vehicle identifier 503 bag identifier 505 length identifier 507 computing unit 509 storage location 511 article code 513 bag code 514 vehicle code 515 length 517 detection device 519 to 531 method steps 533 arrow 535 loading table 537 loading opening 539 operator